Yesterday, the Department of Health and Social Care published the Neighbourhood Health Framework as part of their goal to bring health and care close to home.
Reacting to the publication, NCB has issued the following statement:
The Neighbourhood Health Framework's recognition of children and young people as a priority focus for integrated neighbourhood teams (INTs) is an important step forward. This is something NCB and members of the Children and Young People’s Health Policy Influencing Group (HPIG) have long called for, and the commitment that every child who needs access to an Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) will have it by 2028/29 sets a clear marker for progress.
This framework holds real promise in the opportunity it creates to join up neighbourhood health with the wider reforms already underway for children and families. The framework rightly encourages local areas to align their neighbourhood health plans with Best Start Family Hubs, the Families First Partnership programme, SEND reform and Young Futures Hubs.
We urge ICBs, local authorities and other partners to work together to take advantage of synergies between these programmes they can achieve far more than any one could alone, connecting the NHS with the wider services that shape children's health outcomes.
With that said, realistically to take full advantage of these opportunities local areas will need more clarity around governance, accountability, implementation support and more detailed joined-up policy thinking at National Level.
We hope the welcome recognition of these opportunities will signal a step change in these areas and enable us to ensure that babies, children, young people and families are at the heart of neighbourhood health as it moves from policy into practice.
Phil Anderson and Amanda Allard
Co-Chairs of the Children and Young People's Health Policy Influencing Group